Iran: The Latest ‘Iran thinks it’s winning’: can US peace talks in Pakistan really end the war?
43 snips
Mar 24, 2026 Lina Khatib, Chatham House MENA expert on regional politics. David Blair, The Telegraph’s chief foreign affairs commentator. They dissect secret peace-talk claims, who in Iran might be negotiating, and Pakistan and Egypt’s mediation. They also discuss control of the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran’s public posture and whether Hezbollah’s military and political power can survive the conflict.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Trump Claims Secret Talks And A Strait Deal
- Donald Trump claimed direct peace talks with a high-ranking unnamed Iranian figure and said they agreed on up to 15 points including Iran abandoning nuclear weapons.
- He suggested joint control of the Strait of Hormuz and compared a pliable Iranian leader to Venezuela's arrangement, hinting at a negotiated economic solution.
Negotiations Need IRGC Buy In
- Any credible channel to negotiate must reach the IRGC because they run Iran's military operations.
- Lina Khatib says mediators need strong military-security links to the IRGC, not just diplomatic access.
Pakistan Turkey And Egypt Fit As Mediators
- Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt are plausible mediators because they maintain military and security ties with Iran's IRGC and are not primary targets.
- Lina notes Oman and Qatar are less usable mediators because Iran has attacked them.